Duke Energy is Newest Safe Electricity Partner

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1 Issue 3, 2006 Duke Energy is Newest Safe Electricity Partner Program now has utility partners in 17 states Safe Electricity is pleased to announce a $50,000 grant from The Duke Energy Foundation, which adds Duke Energy to its team of partners dedicated to informing the public about electrical safety. Safe Electricity promotes awareness of electrical hazards and safety measures through its comprehensive Web site ( radio and television public service announcements, frequent news releases and other communication tools. Through this grant, Duke Energy can count Safe Electricity program materials among its public safety education efforts. Duke is the latest electric utility to join the program and is the largest investor-owned utility to become a partner. Other Safe Electricity investor-owned utility partners include ComEd, and Ameren subsidiaries AmerenCILCO, Ameren- CIPS and AmerenIP. Safe Electricity also has municipal utility partners and 179 electric cooperative partners in 15 states. Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and has 3.8 million retail electric customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. With a portfolio of natural gas and electric businesses, both regulated and non- States with Safe Electricity utility partners regulated, Duke Energy has a total of 5.6 million energy customers in North America and selected international markets. In addition, Duke Energy generates and sells wholesale electricity to electric companies, cooperatives, municipalities and other large energy users to support electric reliability. Safe Electricity welcomes Duke Energy to the program s growing coalition! Safe Electricity Welcomes New Cooperative Partners Heartland REC Girard, KS Todd Wadena Electric Cooperative Wadena, MN Tri-County Electric Cooperative Hooker, OK Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Port Orford, OR 1

2 A Publication of the Illinois Electric Council For more than 50 years, the Illinois Electric Council has been a trusted source of information and a forum for electric utilities, a premier educational institution, and other organizations to work together on issues of common interest and educate consumers on safe and efficient use of electricity. Illinois Electric Council University of Illinois Room 360, AESB 1304 West Pennsylvania Avenue Urbana, Illinois Ph: (217) Fax: (217) Illinois Electric Council Springfield Office 3001 West White Oaks Drive Suite D Springfield, Illinois Ph: (217) Fax: (217) Executive Director Molly Hall Managing Editor Erin Cleary Send address changes to info@iecouncil.org Copper Theft is Deadly Safe Electricity highlights risk to those tampering with electrical equipment Thieves risk their lives by tampering with electrical equipment to steal copper. The rising incidence of copper theft from electrical facilities has meant more fatalities and widespread impacts to innocent people. At least seven men in five states have been electrocuted since July while hacking through power lines to steal wire made of copper, which has been commanding near-record prices. In Springfield, Illinois, City Water, Light & Power equipment has become a recent casualty to copper thieves. Between mid-august and mid-september, copper was removed from over 120 pieces of utility equipment, which caused power outages and utility pole fires. The Safe Electricity program has recently highlighted the growing problem with a news release, Web site headlines and articles. The program is considering other outreach options to help educate the public about this deadly problem and it s far reaching consequences. Stealing material from an electric substation or utility pole can cause not only serious injuries and death, but extensive outages, fire and explosions consequences that impact innocent Cable blown away when wire cutters make contact people, said Molly Hall, Executive Director of Safe Electricity. Copper wire is appealing to thieves who seek to sell the metal for scrap. Thieves will go as far as climbing power poles, scaling fences, and breaking into buildings to steal the precious metal. While copper theft is not new, skyrocketing prices for the metal are causing robbers to become bolder and more inventive, resulting in more deaths and public impacts than ever before. Tampering with electrical equipment, including the removal of any components, is a serious crime and can be deadly. Anyone seeing suspicious activity around electrical equipment should alert their electric provider immediately or call 911. For tips to help safeguard against electrical dangers and prevent copper theft visit Safe Electricity at Electricity.org. These insulated cutters are inadequate for high voltage. 2

3 New IEC Task Forces Hit the Ground Running! T Outreach and Opportunities he newly formed IEC Task Forces are off to a strong start, making good progress on their identified goals. The Consumer Education Task Force, the Outreach and Opportunities Task Force and the IEC Fact Sheet Task Force have been meeting via conference calls in recent months, digging into their projects. Consumer Education/ Efficiency Education The Consumer Education Task Force met August 15th, September 19th and October 24th via tele-conference. Representatives from Ameren, ComEd, electric cooperatives, and Extension educators comprise the task force that s addressing efficiency education needs, including the creation of a PowerPoint presentation for use with consumer audiences to help them become more energy efficient and reduce their energy costs. The presentation will be designed in a simple, yet compelling format that has multiple components for use with all energy efficiency education programs. Other possible tools and resources being considered are public service announcements that would offer efficiency information and lead the consumer to the IEC web site for more information. The Council regularly creates and distributes articles and news releases that provide consumers efficiency and safety recommendations. Other issues being considered by the Consumer Education Task Force are understanding rate structures, how load-shaping helps businesses get better electricity rates, EPAct 2005 and government assistance for energy efficiency projects, and workshops and programs on efficiency. The Outreach and Opportunities Task Force met via conference call on September 19. With several cooperative members and Extension educators, the purpose of this group is to identify potential audiences for IEC programs and activities, suggest activities and programs, and tap into creative funding sources. A very creative brainstorming session produced many useful suggestions, and ideas have continued to flow in since. Thank you to the IEC task force members whose great ideas for partnerships, programs and funding possibilities are adding to a solid foundation by building greater outreach and future opportunities. IEC Fact Sheet Task Force The Fact Sheet Task Force is completing the process of reviewing the existing IEC Fact Sheets for accuracy and any needed updating so they can be re-posted on the IEC Web site. Requests regularly come in for the IEC Fact sheets, and this team is charged with making sure the information provided is still as useful and up-to-date as it was when it was first created. Stay tuned for the upcoming Fact Sheet library that will be located in the Archives section of the IEC Web site! It s not too late to join a task force! In addition to the groups mentioned in this article, the Technical Education Task Force is forming to discuss programming for the 2007 Power Quality Conference. info@iecouncil.org if you d like to get involved and share your ideas! 3

4 Bird Flu Pandemic - Are You Prepared? What a pandemic flu could mean to your organization You may not have given much thought to the impact of a pandemic. However, recent government advisories suggest a pandemic flu virus could immobilize as much as 40 percent of the work force, not just in utilities but in all industries. This includes the water and power utility industry. Our water supply the backbone of our public health system - cannot be secured and treated without adequate electric power supply. Most, if not all, businesses require electricity for day-to-day business continuity. Without a pandemic influenza preparedness plan, utility companies will not be able to provide power to our public health or economic infrastructures. The most recent flu virus threat is known as the Bird Flu. It is a specific strain of the influenza virus that has been found in worldwide populations of birds, and experts believe this strain has a very good chance of mutating to a form that is easily transmittable from human-to-human. Because this specific strain is very different than flu strains of the past, people have almost no immunity. The Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (EUCI) has developed a two-day conference that discusses in-depth the issues regarding the utility business and the impact of a pandemic virus outbreak and how to develop a contingency plan for your business. The program, Pandemic Influenza: Maintaining Utility Operations and Business Continuity will be held December 12-13, 2006, in Memphis, Tennessee. For a conference brochure and a complete program agenda visit: For more information regarding the Bird Flu Influenza, visit the following web sites: Check out the new Electrical Safety World on the Safe Electricity Web site ( This section has been updated with a new look, graphics, easy navigation and more. Check it out! Culverco.com, LLC

5 RECC receives USDA Wind Energy Grant Credits IEC workshops for vital info Along with promoting electrical efficiency and renewable energy the Illinois Electric Council (IEC) strives to help make those measures reality. Earlier this year, the IEC held two Energy Solution Workshops to help rural businesses and electric cooperatives learn about grant and loan resources for such projects. They featured experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Illinois Finance Authority, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC). Among the attendees was David Stuva, President and CEO of Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (RECC) and two RECC Board members. As a result of the information provided at the workshop, he and his organization pursued a renewable energy grant and received $375,000 for their wind energy project. RECC will construct a 212 foot wind turbine that will provide electricity for up to five hundred homes in their territory. Said Stuva, The workshops were definitely helpful. I learned a lot about the specifics of the Section 9006 grants, and I was also able to hire a professional grant writer through networking there. Presentations included information on federal grants and loans, state loans, free audits to help businesses identify opportunities for energy savings, and how to write competitive grant applications. I thought the workshops were very timely and informative. We had a good selection of speakers that covered the whole gamut of points regarding each topic, said Stuva. The IEC continually looks for opportunities to improve awareness of energy efficiency, renewable energy, safety, power quality measures and more. Information on future events can be found on the Illinois Electric Council Web site at Send an to info@iecouncil.org to provide your input and suggestions. The workshops were definitely helpful. I learned a lot about the specifics of the Section 9006 grants, and I was also able to hire a professional grant writer through networking there. -- David Stuva, President and CEO of RECC 5

6 S parks, arcs and explosions - that s what thousands of Illinois State Fairgoers witnessed during some two dozen live power line demonstrations sponsored by the Illinois Electric Council s Safe Electricity program. Kyle Finley s Live Line Demos continued the tradition of providing fairgoers with a dynamic, entertaining and educational demonstration of the dangers of electricity. Important information was provided, and [the program] was entertaining at the same time, wrote Randy and Thelma Young of Decatur, Illinois. In an praising the program, they said We were particularly interested in what to do when there is a power line down, because a few weeks ago there was a 7200 volt power line down in our neighborhood. Finley s program graphically illustrates the power of 7200 volts as well as 120 volt household current. He uses his experience as a lineman and the same electrical equipment used by utility companies to demonstrate the possible life-threatening hazards that can result from everyday situations. Those who see the memorable program often spread the word to others. Many fairgoers saw the program because a neighbor or friend who had seen the program urged them to see it for themselves. The Young s and other spectators enjoyed the program this year in the comfort of a large tent with bleacher style seating. A generous contribution from ComEd allowed for the addition of the tent and more programs. In addition to ensuring programs went on rain or shine, the cooler temperatures inside the tent helped to increase attendance at each demonstration. A Live Line demo can be viewed in its entirety online at the Safe Electricity Web site, 6 Live Line Demos Charge Up 2006 IL State Fair Fairgoers witness firsthand the result when a Mylar metallic balloon comes into contact with electrical equipment. Important information was provided and (the program) was entertaining at the same time. We were particularly interested in what to do when there is a power line down, because a few weeks ago there was a 7200 volt power line down in our neighborhood. - Randy & Thelma Young, fairgoers from Decatur Finley shows how a hot dog is similar to a finger, and later uses it to illustrate the effect of human contact.

7 Powerful 4-H Projects Get State Fair Showing 4H entries at the Illinois State Fair involve more than farm animals and produce they include projects on human development, clothing and textiles and of course, electricity. The IEC and its 4-H committee this summer continued its long-standing tradition of judging electricity related 4-H projects at the Illinois State Fair. Committee members who helped with judging this year were Chris Grotbo, Allan Masterson, Paul Mariman, Charlie Peterson, Dana Smith and Larry Wachtel. There were multiple levels of electricity projects. The most complicated projects, The Clover Challenge was open only to year olds. Projects could include anything not covered in 4-H project books, such as career exploration, safety issues, floor plan of electrical wiring for a new or renovated building and power plant design. All electricity projects required two written reports, including one explaining specifically how the project was constructed and how it operates. The time kids invest to complete these projects ranges from an hour to several days. Exhibits this year ranged from simple circuit boards all the way up to complex multi-phase wiring schematics. Judges look at workmanship, safety, knowledge, and exhibit presentation. Some of the questions judges ask are: Did the student use proper size wire and components? Were the wires properly routed and secured? Were the wire-to-wire connections soldered properly? Was polarization and color-coding of wiring followed? Judges also want to make sure that the students constructed these projects with safety in mind. Bill Million, Head of 4-H Youth Development with U of I Extension elaborates, Safety takes into account whether the project components were Charlie Peterson and Allan Masterson grounded properly; whether the material and devices used were U.L. approved; and if purchased materials and devices were appropriate and safe for the project. Over 3,400 students from 95 Paul Mariman and Dana Smith Larry Wachtel and Chris Grotbo different counties contributed non-livestock projects to the Illinois State Fair this year. IEC congratulates the many electricity project entrants whose State Fair ribbons attest to their success! 7 7

8 IEC Establishes Second Office Rapid growth of Safe Electricity, expansion of other programs prompts need for additional space, staff Increasing outreach activity and program growth of the Illinois Electric Council (IEC) is being met with a new, larger office in Springfield, IL and additional staff positions housed there. The Council will maintain its original office in Urbana on the campus of the University of Illinois. The IEC Board chose Springfield, the state s capital city, because of its central location, proximity to member organizations and the frequency of meetings held there. Serving our members and program partners is the number one priority, says Molly Hall, IEC Executive Director. With the additional staff members and a centralized location, we are better equipped to meet their needs, the needs of the changing industry and the consumers we all serve. The office expansion reflects the growth of Safe Electricity in recent years and the Council s commitment to adding value for the industry, educators and the public. Three new staff members are housed at the Springfield office, along with the Executive Director. The IEC Board of Directors met Oct. 30 at the IEC s new Springfield office. The new office location is: Illinois Electric Council 3001 West White Oaks Drive Suite D Springfield, IL Phone: (217) Fax: (217) Il li nois Electric Coun cil Uni ver si ty of Illinois 1304 West Pennsylvania, Ave. Ur ba na, IL PRSRT STD U.S. POST AGE PAID Springfield, IL Permit No. 137 In This Issue 1 Duke Energy Foundation Grant 2 Safe Electricity Tackles Copper Theft 3 IEC Task Forces Meeting Goals 5 RECC Gets USDA Energy Grant 6-7 State Fair Activities Reviewed 8